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Surplus Government land to be sold

By Our Special Correspondent

BHUBANESWAR, JULY 5. In a bid to generate additional funds, the Orissa Government has decided to take a series of measures, including the sale of surplus Government land, the Finance Minister, Prafulla Chandra Ghadei, said today.

Presenting a Rs. 30,861.62-crore budget for 2004-2005 in the Assembly, Mr. Ghadei said 17,667.48 acres of surplus land had been identified for the purpose and work had begun for the sale of 6,929.412 acres. The Government would also sell unused industrial sheds and land belonging to defunct public sector undertakings.

Mr. Ghadei said the Government was planning to introduce a Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Bill to check the increase in the State's debt burden.

He stressed the need for proper utilisation of Central grants. The main objectives of the budget were poverty eradication, providing social security to the weaker sections, proper utilisation of funds and speedy development of the State.

Terming the budget "growth-oriented," he said all efforts would be taken by his Ministry to cut down wasteful expenditure and generate more revenue.

He said there was no proposal to impose new taxes.

The State, which has a debt burden of over Rs. 30,000 crore, is using more than 34 per cent of its revenue for interest payment.

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